Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-12-30

he far end. Three sides were enclosed by
walls OF earth and rock, and our only way
gas 10 attack the men from above. How
nigh we would have TO climb and what
he difficulties. we could not say. We
we're not three minutes deciding to make
he attempt, aud we prepared for 1t by
leaving coats, vests, hats, and boots be-
lind We began the ascent about hun
lred feet back from the mouth Of the rift
md do not believe two panthers could
aave done better. The side of the noun
ain was thickly covered with cedars,
vines, and rocks, and progress was made
almost entirely by creeping. Once we
lrew ourselves up cliff fun twenty feet
high by grapevine hanging down. and
again we made use of tree TO seek a
higher elevation We had been going up
for half an hour before we bore oil 10 the
right in the direction Of the rift. We then
had TO move far more cautiously, and
presume Il was full hour from the time
we left the valley before we lay on our
stomachs n hundred feet above the camp
fire and looked over The men were di.
rectly beneath us, sitting close together.
and smoking as they counted the money,
We had but one way to attack. Luckily
Tor us II was straight descent | could
have dropped a coin fair upon the hat of
The man beneath me- We were out upon
A rocky shelf, but there were loose stones
II all sizes all about us. l selected one
weighing about twenty-five pounds, the
miner got one equally rs large, and We
,arefully crept back to the edge with
eem The fall of the smallest pebble
VIC uld startlc the men below, and we used
IS II. uch caution as if our lives would pay
he forfeit. After bit we were ready.
The men had not moved. For about Il
minute lost my nerve. 1t seemed hor-
-ible thing TO do. Had been alone be
ieve | should have relented. The miner
seemed TO read my thoughts, and he put
MS mouth TO my ear and whispered:
Remember how they shot the ranch
man, and remember, that they took our
very shilling"
We poised the stones on the edge OF the
lift. and at whispered Now" from him
we dropped them | heard them strike.
nd drew back He peered over, and after
4 moment recovered his balance and said:
Now we can go down. Those chaps
will never rob another coach.
1t took us longer to go down than to
,ome up, but we made the descent in safe
V. and walked around 10 and up the rift,
rhe fire had nearly died out. We replen-
shed il, and then saw that both men were
lead. 1t WAS horrible sight and one
10 not care to describe. Our rocks had
allen squarely down upon their heads, and
you can imagine the result. There was a
Try, airy cave but few feet away and
he gang had made the place a rendezvous
or long time. We recovered every dol.
ar our coach had been robbed OF and
more than rs much again which had been
aiken from others The cave had big
upply of fire arms, blankets, and provi-
ions, and in mail bag hanging on the
wall were ten gold and silver watches
We got altogether sixteen watches, five or
TX valuable pins, and firearms worth at
east 5000 We not only secured the
wealth but we made an even divide and
Kept every dollar Of IT, An attempt was
made in Stockton TO compel lis to dizzy
With several people who had been robbed,
Jul it was failure. As the tourist was
nut of ready cash we gave him $500, but
We would not even sell the lieutenant back
his watch at any rate. 1t was told all over
he slope that our haul amounted TO so,
20. II il did we earned every dollar of
t. besides wiping ont bad gang and leav-
NJ the stage line clear for the next six
months